Button-machine



(No Model.)' 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. P. DE-VINE.

BUTTON MACHINE. No. 363,214. Patented May 17, 1887 N. PETERS. Phnm-ulho m her. Washinmun, D. c.

STATES Arnnr rrrcnt \VILLTAM P. DEVINE, OF NElVARK, NE\V JERSEY.

BUTTON-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 363,214, dated May 17, 1887.

Application filed February 18, 1887. Serial No. 228,131.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1', WILLIAM P. DEVINE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Button-lvlachines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form'a part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a machine for making covered buttons of different sizes, to arrange the dies and punches so that they will perform their work to a certain extent automatically, and to produce at a low cost of manufacture a durable, substanti al,a11d efficient buttonmaking machine.

The invention consists in a machine for making covered buttons, and in the arrangements and combinations of parts thereof, substantially as will be hereinafter set forth,and finally embodied in the clauses of the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like lettersindicate corresponding parts in each of the several figures of the three sheets thereof, Figure 1 is a front View of a buttonmachine embodying my improvements. Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are detail views of certain interme diate punches or riveting-punches used in connection with the machine. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are details of certain cutters for cutting the cloth or covering for buttons. Fig 8, Sheet 2, is a side elevation of the machine, partly in transverse central section, illustrating an automatic gravity-catch and other parts used in connection with the lower dies, the. Fig. 9, Sheet 3, is a side elevation of the machine. Fig. 10 is a detail of said gravity-catch used in connection with the lower dies. Fig.1l is a modification of the lower gang of dies; and Fig. 12 is a transverse vertical section of the intermediate punch, taken through line a", Fig; 2.

In said drawings, A indicates the body portion or standard of my machinc,which may be of any convenient form for holding the punch B and die-plate E and lever D for operating said punches, but preferably of the angular (No model.)

form, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, to provide a seat for a die-carrier, E, and a bearing for the punch B and lever D.

The dies are carried, preferably, by :a sliding plate or bed, E, and are brought alternately under the punch, as required,one upper punch serving for all the dies without referenceto mm, and is adapted to hold automatically a shell of any size within certain limits, and to iorce said shell, together with its covering of cloth or any other fabric, into the lower die by pressure on said lever, as will be understood. Then the said dies are brought into proper position under the punch, they are locked automatic ally by means of a spring-actuated lockingbolt, F,which enters into engagement with a perforation, G, in the bed E; or, in lieu of the sliding bed E, a circular bed, E, as illustrated in Fig. 11, may be used, being pivoted to the lower arm of the standard A, and employing a locking-bolt similar to the one used in connection with the sliding device.

The lower die is made in two partsa central portion and a sleeve therearound. Said sleeve is supported by a spring, as H, and is held in position by means of a gravity-catch, T, so that it will not be pressed down when the punch descends and the core is being drawn down 5 but when the intermediate punch or buttonclosing punch, J, is placed in position on top of the lower die the top portion of said catch I has nothing to bear against, and therefore when pressureis broughtto bear on the punch B said catch is automatically released, thus allowing the bottom portion of the lower die to be brought into play, which acts to close the button, as will be manifest. Said machine is adapted to be secured to an ordinary table or bench, as Q, by means of a clamp, as K, or any other suitable device; or it may be held thereon by being screwed, bolted, or otherwise secured thereto. The punch B is reduced in diameter at its lower end to provide a bearing for the spring L, and still further reduced to provide a bearing for the sleeve M and a shoulder, N, to limit the upward movement of said sleeve, said spring L being made to hug the upper portion of the punch and the sleeve M closely, so as to hold the parts in place and keep them from dropping down.

The under die may beslightly concave on 1ts surface or of any other form, so as to give the shape desired to the finished button. The

sleeve R of the lower die is provided with an.

annular recess, 0, adapted to receive the piece of cloth or other fabric to cover the button. Thus when the piece of fabricis placedin the recess and a button-blank is placed over the shoulder S or in the recess T, according to its size, and the punch is caused to descend, the .catch I holds the bottom die in place and the top punch forces the blank downward, pressing the covering around it. Said catch is automatically held into holding engagement with the bottom die by a sleeve, M, the periphery of which, as the punch 13 descends, comesinto contact with the upper end of said catch, and pressing it outward forces the lower or holding end of said catchinto engagement with said die, and releases it when it ascends, as will be readily understood upon referring to Figs. 8 and 9. When the bottom portion of the button is inserted into the intermediate punch, J, and the latter,which is of smaller diameter than the sleeve M,is placed upon the top ofthe bottom die, itprojects above the upper end of the catch without engaging with it, because of the less diameter of the said intermediate punch, J; and, consequently, when the puneh'B is'pressed down ward, bringing thesleeve M into engagement with the said intermediate punch, J, the catch is not operated, and the bottom die is free to descend to its bearings, as will be understood by referring to Figs. 8, 9, and 12, the latter being an enlarged sectional view of said intermediate punch, J.

I The operation, in connection with said punch, is as follows: The parts referred to being placed in position and pressure brought to bear upon the punch B, Fig. 8, the inner portion, P, Fig. 12, presses the under part of the shank of the button home in the buttonblank in the lower die, C, Figs. 8 and 9, when the sleeve M on the upper punch meets the shoulder N and pressure is brought upon the outer portion, U, of said intermediate punch, and the convex recess V therein acts to close andrivet the outer portion of the button-blank around the bottom portion, as will be understood.

When the buttoircoverings are to be cut,the gang of lower dies are removed and a block of wood is inserted instead thereof, and a cutter, as V, is fastened to the upper punch, B, and the operation gone through with in the ordinary manner. While making this change the upper punch may be held up out of the way by means of a set-screw, as Y, as will be manifest. I

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new is- 1. An improved machine for making covered buttons,'consisting of a suitable standard or frame, a punch, as 13, working therein, a sleeve, as'M, mounted on said punch, aspring engaging with said sleeve and punch, as described, a lower die or dies, a sleeve or sleeves,

an automatically-operating catch, and springs I arranged in connection therewith,as described, and means for operating said punch and holding said dies in place, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a machine for making covered buttons,

the combination of a punch, as B, a gang of lower adjustable dies, and an automaticallyworking catch, as I, for holding said dies in place, said parts'being arranged and adapted to operate substantially as and forthepurposes mediate punch, as J, a gang of lower adjustable dies, arranged as described with relation to said punches, and a spring fastening-bolt for-locking said dies in place, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

5. In a machine for making covered buttons, the combination of a punch, as B, an intermediate punch, as J, agang oflower dies mounted on a sliding plate and held in place by means of a spring-actuated locking device, arranged and adapted to operate substantially-as and for the purposes set forth.

6. In a machine for making covered buttons, the combination of a punch, as B, having a shoulder, N, a sleeve,M, mounted upon said punch and adapted to engage said shoulder, a spring to hold said sleeve in place, an intermediate punch, as J, and a gang of lower dies, all arranged and adapted to operate substan tially as herein described, for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 12th day of February, 1887.

WILLIAM P. DEVINE.

the combination of a punch, as B, an inter- 

